Hybrid wireless power transmitting system and method therefor

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides a signal processing method performed by a hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus which is configured to transmit wireless power signals based on magnetic resonance and magnetic induction, the method comprising transmitting a first object detection signal via an inductive power transmitting unit and a second object detection signal via a magnetic resonant power transmitting unit alternatively; operating one of the inductive power transmitting unit and the magnetic resonant power transmitting unit which is selected based on an inductive response signal and a resonant response signal corresponding to the first object detection signal and the second object detection signal respectively; and transmitting wireless power signal via the selected power transmitting unit; and a hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus using the method.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Patent Application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No.17,321,791, filed May 17, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/994,934 filed Aug. 17, 2020, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/973,600 filed May 8,2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/033,449 filed Apr. 29, 2016, which is a national stage ofInternational Application No. PCT/KR2013/010409, filed Nov. 15, 2013,and claims the priority benefit of Korean Application No.10-2013-0130959, filed Oct. 31, 2013, Korean Application No.10-2013-0135609, filed Nov. 8, 2013, Korean Application No.10-2013-0138101, filed Nov. 14, 2013, and Korean Application No.10-2013-0138107, filed Nov. 14, 2013, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office. The disclosures of the prior Applications areconsidered part of and incorporated by reference in this PatentApplication.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a hybrid wireless power transmittingapparatus and a method for the system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNOLOGY

The advance of wireless communication technology has brought aubiquitous information environment where people can get any informationthat they want at any time and any place. However, most communicationinformation devices still rely on batteries, and use of the devices arelimited since they receive power via power lines.

Therefore, the wireless information network environment cannot be fullyutilized unless the problem related to device power is solved.

To solve the problem, various methods for wireless power transmissionare under development, typical examples of which include a microwavereceiving method, a method based on magnetic induction utilizingmagnetic field, or a method based on magnetic resonance due to energyconversion between magnetic and electric fields.

The microwave receiving method has an advantage that power can betransmitted a long distance since microwaves can be radiated into theair through an antenna, but efficiency of power transmission isrestricted due to considerable radiation loss in the air.

On the other hand, the magnetic induction method makes use of magneticenergy coupling due to primary and secondary coils, utilizing atransmitting coil as a transmitter and the secondary coil as a receiver.The magnetic induction exhibits a high efficiency of power transmission.However, it is also limited because the first and the second coil haveto be located within a short distance of a few millimeters, andefficiency of power transmission is rapidly changed according to thearrangement of the first and the second coil.

Due to these reasons, a method based on magnetic resonance is gettingmore attention these days, which is similar to the method based onmagnetic induction, but transmits power in the form of magnetic energyby concentrating the energy at a specific resonant frequency determinedby coil-type inductors (L) and capacitors (C). The magnetic resonancemethod is advantageous since it can transmit relatively large energy along distance of up to a few meters, but this also requires a highquality resonance factor. In other words, the magnetic resonance methodis disadvantageous in that efficiency of power transmission changesrapidly according to how well impedance matching or resonant frequencymatching is performed.

Accordingly, in the technical field to which the present disclosurebelongs, taking into account the fact that a method based on magneticinduction is more advantageous if the distance between transmitting andreceiving coils is short while a method based on magnetic resonance ismore advantageous when the distance between the transmitting andreceiving coils is large, a hybrid wireless power transmission system isbeing proposed which utilizes advantages of both of the magneticinduction method and the magnetic resonance method.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a signal processing method for a hybridwireless power transmitting system capable of transmitting a wirelesspower signal by checking whether a wireless power receiving apparatusreceiving the wireless power signal relies on magnetic induction ormagnetic resonance and capable of transmitting a wireless power signalbased on magnetic resonance and a wireless power signal based onmagnetic induction; and a hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatususing the method.

The present disclosure also provides a wireless power transmittingsystem capable of improving control efficiency and simplifying structureby allowing a wireless power receiving apparatus to take part inimpedance matching of the wireless power transmitting system; andcapable of transmitting and receiving an inductive power signal and aresonant power signal.

The present disclosure also provides a hybrid wireless powertransmitting apparatus capable of simultaneous charging by transmittingan inductive power signal and a resonant power signal simultaneously toan induction power receiving apparatus and a magnetic resonancereceiving apparatus and capable of transmitting a resonant power signaland an inductive power signal; and a hybrid wireless power transmittingsystem including the hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus.

The present disclosure also provides a hybrid wireless powertransmitting apparatus capable of simultaneous charging by transmittingan inductive power signal and a resonant power signal simultaneously toan induction power receiving apparatus and a magnetic resonancereceiving apparatus and capable of transmitting a resonant power signaland an inductive power signal; and a hybrid wireless power transmittingsystem including the hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus.

To solve the problem above, a signal processing method performed by ahybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus which is configured totransmit wireless power signals based on magnetic resonance and magneticinduction according to an embodiment of the present disclosure isprovided. The method comprises transmitting a first object detectionsignal via an inductive power transmitting unit and a second objectdetection signal via a magnetic resonant power transmitting unitalternatively; operating one of the inductive power transmitting unitand the magnetic resonant power transmitting unit which is selectedbased on an inductive response signal and a resonant response signalcorresponding to the first object detection signal and the second objectdetection signal respectively; and transmitting wireless power signalvia the selected power transmitting unit.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, theinductive response signal is an amplitude-shift keying (ASK) signal froman inductive power receiving apparatus, and the resonant response signalis a frequency-shift keying (FSK) signal from a resonant wireless powerreceiving apparatus.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, thestep of operating one of the inductive power transmitting unit and themagnetic resonant power transmitting unit which is selected based on aninductive response signal and a resonant response signal correspondingto the first object detection signal and the second object detectionsignal includes: selecting a power transmitting unit corresponding to aresponse signal received earlier than the other response signal.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, thestep of operating one of the inductive power transmitting unit and themagnetic resonant power transmitting unit which is selected based on aninductive response signal and a resonant response signal correspondingto the first object detection signal and the second object detectionsignal includes selecting the magnetic resonant power transmitting unitbased on the resonant response signal and operating the magneticresonant power transmitting unit, and wherein the step of transmittingwireless power signal via the selected power transmitting unit includesreceiving power status information from a wireless power receivingapparatus through a near communication module of the magnetic resonantpower transmitting unit, and controlling the wireless power signal basedon the power status information.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, thestep of operating one of the inductive power transmitting unit and themagnetic resonant power transmitting unit which is selected based on aninductive response signal and a resonant response signal correspondingto the first object detection signal and the second object detectionsignal includes selecting the inductive power transmitting unit based onthe inductive response signal and operating inductive power transmittingunit, and wherein the step of transmitting wireless power signal via theselected power transmitting unit includes receiving power statusinformation from a wireless power receiving apparatus through atransmitting coil of the inductive power transmitting unit, andcontrolling the wireless power signal based on the power statusinformation.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, thestep of operating one of the inductive power transmitting unit and themagnetic resonant power transmitting unit which is selected based on aninductive response signal and a resonant response signal correspondingto the first object detection signal and the second object detectionsignal includes, if both of the inductive response signal and theresonant response signal are received, transmitting an inductiveresonant detection signal via the inductive power transmitting unit anda magnetic resonant detection signal via the magnetic resonant powertransmitting unit, wherein the inductive resonant detection signal is afrequency change step signal and the magnetic resonant detection signalis a voltage change step signal; and if a resonant frequency ofinductive frequency information corresponding to the inductive resonantdetection signal is above a reference frequency and a resonant voltageof resonant voltage information corresponding to the magnetic resonantdetection signal is below a reference voltage, selecting and operatingthe magnetic resonant power transmitting unit; and if a resonantfrequency of the inductive resonant detection signal is below areference frequency and a resonant voltage of the magnetic resonantdetection signal is above a reference voltage, selecting and operatingthe inductive power transmitting unit.

The frequency change step signal may be a frequency change signal from110 kHz to 205 kHz, the voltage change step signal is a voltage changestep signal from 5 volts (V) to 20V at 6.78 MHz±5%.

A hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus configured to transmitwireless power signals based on magnetic resonance and magneticinduction according to another embodiment of the present disclosure isprovided. The apparatus includes an inductive power transmitting unitconfigured to transmit a wireless power signal based on the magneticinduction; a magnetic resonant power transmitting unit configured totransmit a wireless power signal based on the magnetic resonance; and acontroller configured to transmit a first object detection signal viathe inductive power transmitting unit and a second object detectionsignal via the magnetic resonant power transmitting unit alternatively,to select one of the inductive power transmitting unit and the magneticresonant power transmitting unit based on an inductive response signaland a resonant response signal corresponding to the first objectdetection signal and the second object detection signal respectively, tooperate the selected power transmitting unit, and to control thetransmission of a wireless power signal via the selected powertransmitting unit.

According to an aspect of another embodiment of the present disclosure,the response signal may be one of an ASK signal from an inductive powerreceiving apparatus and a FSK signal from a resonant wireless powerreceiving apparatus.

According to an aspect of another embodiment of the present disclosure,the controller is further configured to select a power transmitting unitcorresponding to a response signal received earlier than the otherresponse signal.

According to an aspect of another embodiment of the present disclosure,the controller may be further configured to select the magnetic resonantpower transmitting unit based on the resonant response signal, tooperate the magnetic resonant power transmitting unit, to receive powerstatus information from a wireless power receiving apparatus through anear communication module of the magnetic resonant power transmittingunit, and to control the wireless power signal based on the power statusinformation.

According to an aspect of another embodiment of the present disclosure,the controller may be further configured to select the inductive powertransmitting unit based on the inductive response signal, to operateinductive power transmitting unit, to receive power status informationfrom a wireless power receiving apparatus through a transmitting coil ofthe inductive power transmitting unit, and to control the wireless powersignal based on the power status information.

According to an aspect of another embodiment of the present disclosure,the controller may be further configured to transmit an inductiveresonant detection signal via the inductive power transmitting unit anda magnetic resonant detection signal via the magnetic resonant powertransmitting unit if both of the inductive response signal and theresonant response signal are received, wherein the inductive resonantdetection signal is a frequency change step signal and the magneticresonant detection signal is a voltage change step signal; configured toselect and operate the magnetic resonant power transmitting unit if aresonant frequency of inductive frequency information corresponding tothe inductive resonant detection signal is above a reference frequencyand a resonant voltage of resonant voltage information corresponding tothe magnetic resonant detection signal is below a reference voltage; andconfigured to select and operate the inductive power transmitting unitif a resonant frequency of the inductive resonant detection signal isbelow a reference frequency and a resonant voltage of the magneticresonant detection signal is above a reference voltage.

According to an aspect of another embodiment of the present disclosure,the frequency change step signal may be a frequency change signal at6.78 MHz±5%, and the voltage change step signal is a voltage change stepsignal from 5V to 20V at 6.78 MHz±5%.

According to an aspect of another embodiment of the present disclosure,the inductive power transmitting unit may include a transmitting coil,the magnetic resonant power transmitting unit includes a loop antennalocating around the transmitting coil, the first object detection signalis transmitted by the transmitting coil, the resonant power objectdetection signal is transmitted by the loop antenna.

To solve the problem above, a hybrid wireless power transmittingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure isprovided. The apparatus includes a transmitting coil configured toreceive an inductive power signal; an antenna configured to locatearound the transmitting coil and to receive a resonant power signal; arectifying unit configured to generate rectified power by rectifying analternative power generated from the inductive power signal and theresonant power signal; a converter configured to convert the rectifiedpower; a voltage stabilization circuit connected between the rectifyingunit and the converter; and a receiving controller configured to controlsupply of the rectified power to the voltage stabilization circuit ifthe resonant power signal and the inductive power signal are received atan initial stage, to control supply of the rectified power to theconverter after turning off the voltage stabilization circuit if a powerrectified by the resonant power signal and the inductive power signal isdetermined to be within a reference range.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, thehybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus includes a variablecondenser connected to the antenna, wherein the receiving controller isfurther configured to control to receive an initial resonant powersignal at a receiving frequency separated from a resonant frequency byadjusting the variable condenser if the antenna detects a magneticresonant based wireless power transmitting apparatus.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, thereceiving controller may be further configured to control to receive theresonant power receiving signal at the resonant frequency byre-adjusting the variable condenser after a reference time elapses fromthe reception time of the initial resonant power signal.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, thehybrid wireless power receiving apparatus may include a nearcommunication module configured to transmit charging status informationgenerated by the resonant power signal.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, thehybrid wireless power receiving apparatus may further include a voltagesensor connected between the rectifying unit and the converter, whereinthe receiving controller is further configured to control supply of therectified power to the converter after turning off the voltagestabilization circuit if a voltage measured by the voltage sensorbecomes within a reference range.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, therectifying unit may include a resonant rectifying unit configured torectify a power generated by the resonant power signal; an inductiverectifying unit configured to rectify a power generated by the inductivepower signal; and a switching unit configured to select one of theresonant rectifying unit and the inductive rectifying unit.

A method of controlling a wireless power signal in a hybrid typewireless power receiving apparatus according to another embodiment ofthe present disclosure includes: turning on a voltage stabilization unitwhich is connected to the output of a rectifying unit if one of theresonant power signal and the inductive power signal is received from amagnetic resonant based transmitting apparatus at an initial stage; andsupplying the rectified power to a converter after turning off thevoltage stabilization circuit if a power rectified by the resonant powersignal and the inductive power signal is determined to be within areference range.

According to an aspect of another embodiment of the present disclosure,the resonant power signal may be received by a loop antenna, and theinductive power signal is received by a receiving coil which issurrounded by the loop antenna.

According to an aspect of another embodiment of the present disclosure,the step of turning on a voltage stabilization unit which is connectedto the output of a rectifying unit if one of the resonant power signaland the inductive power signal is received from a magnetic resonantbased transmitting apparatus at an initial stage includes: receiving aninitial resonant power signal at a receiving frequency separated from aresonant frequency by adjusting the variable condenser connected to anantenna when an initial resonant power signal is received.

A method of controlling a wireless power signal in a hybrid typewireless power receiving apparatus further includes: receiving theresonant power receiving signal at the resonant frequency byre-adjusting the variable condenser after a reference time elapses fromthe reception time of the initial resonant power signal.

A wireless power receiving apparatus based on magnetic resonanceaccording to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure includes:an antenna configured to receive a resonant power signal; a variablecondenser connected to the antenna; a rectifying unit configured togenerate a rectified power by rectifying an alternative power generatedfrom the resonant power signal; a converter configured to convert therectified power; a resonant receiving controller configured to controlto receive an initial resonant power signal at a receiving frequencyseparated from a resonant frequency by adjusting the variable condenserif the antenna detects a magnetic resonant based wireless powertransmitting apparatus.

According to an aspect of yet another embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the resonant receiving controller is further configured tocontrol to receive the resonant power receiving signal at the resonantfrequency by re-adjusting the variable condenser after a reference timeelapses from the reception time of the initial resonant power signal.

To solve the problem above, a hybrid wireless power transmitting systemincluding a hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus fortransmitting an inductive power signal and a resonant power signal and awireless power receiving apparatus for receiving a power signal from thehybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus is provided. The wirelesspower transmitting apparatus includes a transmitting coil configured totransmit the inductive power signal; a transmitting antenna configuredto transmit the resonant power signal; a first variable capacitor blockconnected to the transmitting coil and the transmitting antenna; and atransmitting controller configured to: perform an inductive mainimpedance matching by controlling the first variable capacitor block andby operating the transmitting coil if the wireless power receivingapparatus is an inductive power receiving apparatus; and perform aresonant main impedance matching by controlling the first variablecapacitor block and by operating the transmitting antenna if thewireless power receiving apparatus is a resonant power receivingapparatus. The wireless power receiving apparatus includes a receivingblock configured to receive at least one of a resonant power signal andthe inductive power signal; a second variable capacitor block connectedto the receiving block; and a receiving controller configured to controlthe second variable capacitor block to perform an auxiliary impedancematching with the wireless transmitting apparatus.

The first variable capacitor block may further includes a first maincapacitor block connected to the transmitting coil; a second maincapacitor block connected to the transmitting antenna; and a mainswitching unit configured to select one of the first main capacitorblock and the second main capacitor block under the control of thetransmitting controller.

The first main capacitor block may include a plurality of main inductivecapacitors connected in serial or parallel with each other, and aninductive transmitting switch connected between the main inductivecapacitors, wherein the transmitting controller performs the inductivemain impedance matching by turning on and off the inductive transmittingswitch.

The second main capacitor block may include a plurality of main resonantcapacitors connected in serial or parallel with each other, and aresonant transmitting switch connected between the main resonantcapacitors, wherein the transmitting controller performs a resonant mainimpedance matching by turning on and off the resonant transmittingswitch.

The receiving block may include a receiving coil for receiving theinductive power signal, and a receiving antenna for receiving theresonant power signal.

The second variable capacitor block may include a first auxiliarycapacitor block connected to the receiving coil; a second auxiliarycapacitor block connected to the receiving antenna; and an auxiliaryswitching unit configured to select one of the first auxiliary capacitorblock and the second auxiliary capacitor block under the control of thereceiving controller.

The first auxiliary capacitor block may include a plurality of auxiliaryinductive capacitors connected in serial or parallel with each other,and an inductive receiving switch connected between the auxiliaryinductive capacitors, wherein the receiving performs an inductiveauxiliary impedance matching by turning on and off the inductivereceiving switch.

The second auxiliary capacitor block may include a plurality ofauxiliary resonant capacitors connected in serial or parallel with eachother, and a resonant receiving switch connected between the auxiliaryresonant capacitors, wherein the receiving controller performs aresonant auxiliary impedance matching by turning on and off the resonantreceiving switch.

According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, awireless power transmitting system including a wireless powertransmitting apparatus and a wireless power receiving apparatus isprovided. The wireless power transmitting apparatus includes atransmitting block configured to transmit a wireless power signal; afirst variable capacitor block connected to the transmitting block; anda transmitting controller configured to control the first variablecapacitor block for a main impedance matching when the wireless powerreceiving apparatus is placed in charging position. The wireless powerreceiving apparatus includes a receiving block configured to receive thewireless power signal; a second variable capacitor block connected tothe receiving block; and a receiving controller configured to controlthe second variable capacitor block for an auxiliary impedance matchingwith the transmitting block.

The first variable capacitor block may further include a plurality ofmain capacitors connected in serial or parallel with each other, and atransmitting switch connected between the main capacitors, wherein thetransmitting controller performs the main impedance matching by turningon and off the transmitting switch.

The second variable capacitor block may further include a plurality ofauxiliary capacitors connected in serial or parallel with each other,and a receiving switch connected between the auxiliary capacitors,wherein the receiving controller performs the auxiliary impedancematching by turning on and off the receiving switch.

To solve the problem above, a hybrid wireless power transmittingapparatus configured to transmit a resonant power signal and aninductive power signal according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure is provided. The apparatus includes an inductive powertransmitting unit configured to transmit the inductive power signal, theinductive power transmitting unit including a transmitting coil and afirst variable capacitor block connected to the transmitting coil; amagnetic resonant power transmitting unit configured to transmit theresonant power signal, the magnetic resonant power transmitting unitincluding an antenna and a second variable capacitor block connected tothe antenna; and a transmitting controller configured to control theinductive power transmitting unit and the magnetic resonant powertransmitting unit for simultaneous transmission of the inductive powersignal and the resonant power signal by adjusting the first variablecapacitor block and the second variable capacitor block when aninductive power receiving apparatus is placed in a charging position andwhen a magnetic resonant power receiving apparatus is placed in acharging distance.

Each of the first capacitor block and the second capacitor block mayinclude a plurality of capacitors and a switching unit which isconnected between the capacitors.

The magnetic resonant transmitting unit may further include a nearcommunication unit for receiving a resonant power status informationfrom a resonant receiving apparatus, and the transmitting controllerattempts an impedance matching by adjusting capacitance of the first andthe second variable capacitor block based on the resonant power statusinformation and inductive power status information received through thetransmitting coil.

The transmitting controller may attempt an impedance matching byrandomly adjusting capacitance of the first and the second variablecapacitor block.

The transmitting controller may attempt an impedance matching of thefirst variable capacitor block after performing an impedance matching ofthe second variable capacitor block.

A hybrid wireless power transmitting system according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure includes a hybrid wireless powertransmitting apparatus described above; an inductive power receivingapparatus including a receiving coil, a third variable capacitor blockconnected to the receiving coil, and an inductive receiving controlleradjusting capacitance of the third variable capacitor block; and amagnetic resonant receiving apparatus including a receiving antenna, afourth variable capacitor block and a resonant receiving controlleradjusting capacitance of the fourth variable capacitor block.

The inductive receiving controller may perform a fine control of thecapacitance of the third variable capacitor block.

The resonant receiving controller may perform a fine control of thecapacitance of the fourth variable capacitor block.

To solve the problem above, a hybrid wireless power transmittingapparatus configured to transmit a resonant power signal and aninductive power signal according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure is provided. The apparatus includes an inductive powertransmitting unit configured to transmit the inductive power signal, theinductive power transmitting unit including a transmitting coil and afirst variable capacitor block connected to the transmitting coil; amagnetic resonant power transmitting unit configured to transmit theresonant power signal, the magnetic resonant power transmitting unitincluding an antenna and a second variable capacitor block connected tothe antenna; and a transmitting controller configured to control theinductive power transmitting unit and the magnetic resonant powertransmitting unit for simultaneous transmission of the inductive powersignal and the resonant power signal by adjusting the first variablecapacitor block and the second variable capacitor block when aninductive power receiving apparatus is placed in a charging position andwhen a magnetic resonant power receiving apparatus is placed in acharging distance.

Each of the first capacitor block and the second capacitor block mayinclude a plurality of capacitors and a switching unit which isconnected between the capacitors.

The magnetic resonant transmitting unit may further include a nearcommunication unit for receiving a resonant power status informationfrom a resonant receiving apparatus, and the transmitting controllerattempts an impedance matching by adjusting capacitance of the first andthe second variable capacitor block based on the resonant power statusinformation and inductive power status information received through thetransmitting coil.

The transmitting controller may attempt an impedance matching byrandomly adjusting capacitance of the first and the second variablecapacitor block.

The transmitting controller may attempt an impedance matching of thefirst variable capacitor block after performing an impedance matching ofthe second variable capacitor block.

A hybrid wireless power transmitting system according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure includes a hybrid wireless powertransmitting apparatus described above; an inductive power receivingapparatus including a receiving coil, a third variable capacitor blockconnected to the receiving coil, and an inductive receiving controlleradjusting capacitance of the third variable capacitor block; and amagnetic resonant receiving apparatus including a receiving antenna, afourth variable capacitor block and a resonant receiving controlleradjusting capacitance of the fourth variable capacitor block.

The inductive receiving controller may perform a fine control of thecapacitance of the third variable capacitor block.

The resonant receiving controller may perform a fine control of thecapacitance of the fourth variable capacitor block.

Advantageous Effects

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure above, by checkingthe type of a wireless power receiving apparatus through an antenna anda transmitting coil and accordingly transmitting a wireless power signalbased on an appropriate scheme, an inductive wireless power receivingapparatus and a resonant wireless power receiving apparatus can becharged.

Also, in case a wireless power receiving apparatus is a hybrid type, awireless power signal with more improved transmission efficiency can betransmitted.

Also, since the type of a wireless power receiving apparatus can bechecked without using a separate communication unit or detection sensor,the number of components can be reduced, and manufacturing costs can bereduced.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure above, sincecharging can be performed by receiving both of an inductive power signaland a resonant power signal irrespective of the type of a transmittingapparatus, compatibility among apparatus is improved.

Also, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an abruptvoltage rise out of a reference range which can occur at the initialcharging step can be prevented, which contributes to improvement ofdurability of related products.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure above, since bothof a wireless power transmitting apparatus and a wireless powerreceiving apparatus take part in impedance matching, control efficiencyfor impedance matching is improved.

Also, since change of capacitance for impedance matching is performedthrough a simple combination of a series-parallel circuit and a switch,various capacitance values can be configured even with a smaller numberof capacitors and switches.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure above, a hybridwireless power transmitting apparatus can charge both of an inductivepower receiving apparatus and a magnetic resonant receiving apparatusplaced within a charging distance by transmitting a wireless powersignal to both of the apparatus.

Also, the present disclosure can maximize transmission efficiency ofresonant charging and inductive charging by compensating theinterference which may occur as a transmitting coil and a transmittingantenna are operated at the same time by changing capacitance.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure above, a hybridwireless power transmitting apparatus can charge both of an inductivepower receiving apparatus and a magnetic resonant receiving apparatusplaced within a charging distance by transmitting a wireless powersignal to both of the apparatus.

Also, the present disclosure can maximize transmission efficiency ofresonant charging and inductive charging by compensating theinterference which may occur as a transmitting coil and a transmittingantenna are operated at the same time by changing capacitance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a wireless power transmittingsystem including a hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatusaccording to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an inductive power transmittingunit of a hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus according to afirst embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a magnetic resonant powertransmitting unit of a hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatusaccording to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a signal processing method of ahybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus capable of transmittingwireless power signals based on magnetic resonance and magneticinduction according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a signal processing method for thecase where a hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus capable oftransmitting a wireless power signal based on magnetic resonance and awireless power signal based on magnetic induction according to a firstembodiment of the present disclosure receives an inductive responsesignal and a resonant response signal simultaneously.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a magnetic resonant detection signaltransmitted by a signal processing method for a hybrid wireless powertransmitting apparatus capable of transmitting a magnetic resonantwireless power signal and an inductive wireless power signal accordingto a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of an inductive resonant detection signaltransmitted by a signal processing method for a hybrid wireless powertransmitting apparatus capable of transmitting a magnetic resonantwireless power signal and an inductive wireless power signal accordingto a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating operation of a wireless powertransmitting system including a hybrid wireless power receivingapparatus according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of ahybrid wireless power receiving apparatus according to a secondembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of arectifying unit of a hybrid wireless power receiving apparatus accordingto a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of amagnetic resonant wireless power receiving apparatus according toanother embodiment of the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating a wireless power transmissioncontrol method according to a hybrid wireless power receiving apparatusaccording to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of awireless power transmitting system capable of transmitting and receivingan inductive power signal and a resonant power signal according to athird embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of ahybrid receiving apparatus of a wireless power transmitting systemcapable of transmitting and receiving an inductive power signal and aresonant power signal according to a third embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of afirst variable capacitor block of a hybrid wireless power transmittingapparatus of a wireless power transmitting system capable oftransmitting and receiving an inductive power signal and a resonantpower signal according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of asecond variable capacitor block of a hybrid wireless power transmittingapparatus of a wireless power transmitting system capable oftransmitting and receiving an inductive power signal and a resonantpower signal according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram illustrating a variable capacitor block ofa wireless power transmitting system capable of transmitting andreceiving an inductive power signal and a resonant power signalaccording to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 illustrates a case where a hybrid wireless power transmittingapparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosureperforms resonant charging and inductive charging at the same time.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of awireless power transmitting system including a wireless powertransmitting apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of aninductive power transmitting unit of a hybrid wireless powertransmitting apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of amagnetic resonant transmitting unit of a hybrid wireless powertransmitting apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of aninductive power receiving apparatus of a wireless power transmittingsystem of FIG. 19.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of aresonant power receiving apparatus of a wireless power transmittingsystem of FIG. 19.

FIG. 24 is a circuit diagram of a first to fourth variable capacitorblocks included in a wireless power transmitting system which includes ahybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus according to a fourthembodiment of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In what follows, a hybrid wireless power transmitting system and amethod for the system according to the present disclosure will bedescribed in more detail with reference to appended drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a wireless power transmittingsystem including a hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatusaccording to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in the figure, a wireless power system according to the presentdisclosure comprises a hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus 1100and a wireless power receiving apparatus 1200.

A hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus 1100 according to thepresent disclosure can comprise an inductive power transmitting unit120, a magnetic resonant power transmitting unit 130, and a controller110, where an inductive power receiving apparatus 1210, magneticresonant receiving apparatus 1220, and hybrid wireless power receivingapparatus 1230 can be used as the wireless power receiving apparatus1200.

To be more specific, a first object detection signal through theinductive power transmitting unit 120 and a second object detectionsignal through the magnetic resonant power transmitting unit 130 aretransmitted in an alternate fashion. Then either of the inductive powertransmitting unit 120 and the magnetic resonant power transmitting unit130 is selected and operated on the basis of an inductive responsesignal and a resonant response signal corresponding to the first objectdetection signal and the second object detection signal. Afterwards,whether a wireless power receiving apparatus which receives a wirelesspower signal can receive a wireless power signal based on magneticresonance, which is a high frequency signal, or whether a wireless powersignal based on magnetic induction, which is a low frequency signal, ischecked by transmitting a wireless power signal to the wireless powerreceiving apparatus through the selected power transmitting unit.Finally, by transmitting a wireless power signal according to the methodchecked, charging is made possible irrespective of whether the receptionmethod for the wireless power receiving apparatus 1200 is based onmagnetic induction or magnetic resonance.

At this time, the first object detection signal can be a pulse signaltransmitted from a transmitting coil 121 of the inductive powertransmitting unit 120. The second object detection signal can be a pulsesignal transmitted from the antenna 131 of the magnetic resonant powertransmitting unit 130. In other words, the first object detection signalis used to detect an external object by using inductive power while thesecond object detection signal is used to detect an external object byusing resonant power.

The inductive power transmitting unit 120 and the magnetic resonantpower transmitting unit 130 will be described in more detail withreference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an inductive power transmittingunit 120 of a hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus 1100according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in thefigure, the inductive power transmitting unit 120 can comprises atransmitting coil 121, an object detection unit 122, a converter 123, adriver 124, and an inductive power controller 125.

The transmitting coil 121 is a component for transmitting a wirelesspower signal based on magnetic induction, which transmits a wirelesspower signal to the inductive power receiving apparatus 1210 accordingto electromagnetic induction scheme. The transmitting coil 121 can takethe form of a circle, ellipse, track, rectangle, or polygon. Also,according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first objectdetection signal is transmitted through the transmitting coil 121 underthe control of the inductive power controller 125. In other words, theconverter 123 and the driver 124 are controlled so that the first objectdetection signal is transmitted through the transmitting coil 121; if aninductive response signal is received through the transmitting coil 121as the inductive power receiving apparatus 1210 is placed at a chargingposition, the object detection unit 122 detects the inductive responsesignal, by which an inductive wireless power signal is transmittedthrough the transmitting coil 121.

The converter 123 not only generates transmitting power used forgenerating a power signal to be transmitted according to the control ofthe driver 124 and provides the generated transmitting power to thetransmitting coil 121 but also provides transmitting power used forgenerating the first object detection signal to the transmitting coil121. In other words, if an inductive response signal is detected as theinductive power receiving apparatus 1210 is placed at a chargingposition, the inductive power controller 125 transmits a power controlsignal used to transmit a power signal having a power value required bythe converter 123 to the driver 124, and accordingly, the driver 124controls the operation of the converter 123 according to the transmittedpower control signal. Accordingly, the converter applies transmittingpower corresponding to the power value (namely voltage change, frequencychange, or change of voltage and frequency) required by the control ofthe driver to the corresponding transmitting coil 121, by which awireless power signal of the required strength is made to be transmittedto the inductive power receiving apparatus 1210 placed at the chargingposition.

The driver 124 controls the operation of the converter 123 throughcontrol of the inductive power controller 125.

The object detection unit 122 processes an inductive response signalfrom the inductive power receiving apparatus 1210 according to the firstobject detection signal output from the transmitting coil 121 anddetects whether the inductive power receiving apparatus 1210 is placedat the charging position. Accordingly, the inductive power controller125 transmits a digital ping signal (refer to FIG. 7: frequency changestep signal; inductive resonant detection signal) through thetransmitting coil 121 by controlling the driver 124 and receives asignal strength packet signal from the inductive power receivingapparatus 1210 in response to the digital ping signal, by which theinductive power controller can perform the function as an ID checkingunit and perform the function of filtering and processing the chargingstate information (such as an amplitude-shift keying, ASK, communicationsignal transmitted from the wireless power receiving apparatus). Inother words, if an inductive ID signal, which is a signal strengthpacket signal with respect to an inductive resonant detection signaltransmitted through the transmitting coil 121, and a signal includingcharging state information are received, the inductive power controllerperforms the function of filtering and processing the received signals.

The inductive power controller 125 receives and checks the determinationresult of the object detection unit 122, analyzes an object responsesignal received from the transmitting coil 121, and transmits a powersignal for transmitting a wireless power signal to the driver 124through the transmitting coil 121.

In what follows, structure of a magnetic resonant power transmittingunit 130 of the hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus 1110according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be describedin detail with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a magnetic resonant powertransmitting unit 130 of a hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus1100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 3, the magnetic resonant power transmitting unit 130 can comprisean antenna 131, object detection unit 132, high frequency driver 133,short range communication module 134, and magnetic resonant controller135.

The antenna 131 is a component for transmitting a high frequencywireless power signal of 6.78 MHz±5%. To this purpose, a loop antenna131 can be used and can be installed in the outer area of thetransmitting coil 121 of the aforementioned inductive power transmittingunit 120. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, asecond object detection signal is transmitted through the antenna 131under the control of the magnetic resonant controller 135. In otherwords, if a second object detection signal is transmitted through theantenna 131 and a resonant response signal (such as a frequency-shiftkeying, FSK, signal) is received through the antenna 131 as the magneticresonant receiving apparatus 1220 is placed within a charging distance,the object detection unit 132 detects the resonant response signal, andaccordingly the controller 110 selects the magnetic resonant powertransmitting unit 130, after which the magnetic resonant controller 135controls a magnetic wireless power signal to be transmitted through theantenna 131.

The object detection unit 132 processes a resonant response signal fromthe magnetic resonant receiving apparatus 1220 according to a secondobject detection signal output from the antenna 131 and detects whetherthe magnetic resonant receiving apparatus 1220 is located within acharging distance. According to the detection result, the magneticresonant controller 135 transmits a digital ping signal (refer to FIG.6: voltage change step signal; magnetic resonant detection signal)through the antenna 131 by controlling the high frequency driver 133 andperforms the function of the ID checking unit by receiving a signalstrength packet signal (magnetic ID signal) from the magnetic resonantreceiving apparatus 1220 as a response signal with respect to thetransmitted digital ping signal.

Meanwhile, the short range communication module 134 is a component forreceiving charging state information from the magnetic resonantreceiving apparatus 1220 while a magnetic resonant wireless power signalis being transmitted through the antenna 131. The magnetic resonantcontroller 135 changes the transmitting voltage by controlling the highfrequency driver 133 according to the charging state informationreceived through the short range communication module 134, therebyobtaining optimized wireless charging efficiency.

The magnetic resonant controller 135 receives and checks thedetermination result of the object detection unit, analyzes the FSKsignal received through the antenna 131, transmits a power signal fortransmitting a wireless power signal based on magnetic resonance to thehigh frequency driver 133 through the antenna 131, and controls the highfrequency wireless power signal based on magnetic resonance to betransmitted through the antenna 131. Also, the magnetic resonantcontroller 135 can achieve optimized wireless charging efficiency byadjusting output voltage on the basis of the charging state informationreceived in the middle of wireless charging through the short rangecommunication module 134.

In what follows, a signal processing method for checking the type of thewireless power receiving apparatus 1200 of the hybrid wireless powertransmitting apparatus 1100 above will be described with reference toFIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a signal processing method of ahybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus capable of transmittingwireless power signals based on magnetic resonance and magneticinduction according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

First, the controller 110 controls the inductive power transmitting unit120 and the magnetic resonant controller 135 so that a first objectdetection signal is transmitted through the inductive power transmittingunit 120 and a second object detection signal is transmitted through themagnetic resonant power transmitting unit 130. At this time, the firstobject detection signal and the second object detection signal aretransmitted in an alternate fashion S11.

Next, the controller 110 checks whether the inductive power transmittingunit 120 has received an inductive response signal S12. At this time, ifan inductive response signal is not received, the controller 110 checkswhether a magnetic response signal has been received S13. The inductiveresponse signal is an ASK signal coming from the inductive powerreceiving apparatus 1210, and the resonant response signal is an FSKsignal coming from the wireless power receiving apparatus based onmagnetic resonance. Meanwhile, it should be understood that the order ofperforming the S12 and S13 steps can be changed.

In case an inductive response signal is received, the controller 110selects and operates the inductive power transmitting unit 120, S121 andthen transmits a wireless power signal based on magnetic inductionthrough the transmitting coil 121, S123. Accordingly, the wirelessreceiving apparatus (an inductive power receiving apparatus 1210) ischarged by the wireless power signal based on magnetic induction,receives state information from the inductive power receiving apparatus1210 through the transmitting coil 121, thereby realizing wireless powercontrol and obtaining optimized wireless charging S125.

If a resonant response signal is received while an inductive responsesignal is not received, the controller 110 selects and operates themagnetic resonant power transmitting unit 130, S131 and then transmits awireless power signal based on magnetic resonance through the antenna131, S133. Accordingly, the wireless receiving apparatus (a magneticresonant receiving apparatus 1220) is charged by the wireless powersignal based on magnetic resonance, receives state information from themagnetic resonant receiving apparatus 1220 through the short rangecommunication module 134, thereby realizing wireless power control andobtaining optimized wireless charging S135.

In what follows, a signal processing method for the case where awireless power receiving apparatus is a hybrid wireless power receivingapparatus 1230 capable of receiving both of a wireless power signalbased on magnetic resonance and a wireless power signal based onmagnetic induction will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a signal processing method for thecase where a hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus 1100 capableof transmitting a wireless power signal based on magnetic resonance anda wireless power signal based on magnetic induction according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure receives an inductive responsesignal and a resonant response signal simultaneously (namely for thecase where the wireless power receiving apparatus 1200 is the hybridwireless power receiving apparatus 1230).

First, in the same way as in FIG. 4, the controller 110 controls theinductive power transmitting unit 120 and the magnetic resonant powertransmitting unit 130 so that a first object detection signal can betransmitted through the inductive power transmitting unit 120 and asecond object detection signal can be transmitted through the magneticresonant power transmitting unit 130. At this time, the first objectdetection signal and the second object detection signal are transmittedin an alternate fashion S151. At this time, if the wireless powerreceiving apparatus 1200 located within a charging distance is a hybridwireless power receiving apparatus 1230, both of an inductive responsesignal and a resonant response signal can be received S153. Then thecontroller controls both of the inductive power transmitting unit 120and the magnetic resonant power transmitting unit 130 to transmit aninductive resonant detection signal and a magnetic resonant detectionsignal to the wireless power receiving apparatus S155. At this time, ifresonant frequency of the inductive frequency information (which istransmitted from the inductive power receiving apparatus) correspondingto the inductive resonant detection signal lies beyond a predeterminedrange from a reference frequency and the resonant voltage of theresonant voltage information (which is transmitted from the resonantpower receiving apparatus) corresponding to the magnetic resonantdetection signal is smaller than a reference voltage, the controllerselects and operates the magnetic resonant power transmitting unit 130,whereas, if the resonant frequency from among the inductive resonantdetection signals falls within a predetermined range from the referenceframe and the resonant voltage of the magnetic resonant detection signalis higher than the reference voltage, the controller selects andoperates the inductive power transmitting unit 120, S157, S159, S161. Inother words, If the resonant frequency falls within a predeterminedrange from the reference frequency and the resonant voltage is higherthan the reference voltage, induction-based methods become moreefficient than the magnetic resonance-based methods. This is so becausethat the resonant frequency falls within a predetermined range from thereference frequency indicates that the wireless power receivingapparatus 1200 is located very close to an optimal charging positionamong various charging positions, and that the resonant voltage of themagnetic resonant detection signal is higher than the reference voltageindicates that the wireless power receiving apparatus 1200 is locatedwithin a charging distance separated by a predetermined distance from anoptimal charging distance. Therefore, if the resonant frequency fallswithin a predetermined range from the reference frequency and theresonant voltage is higher than the reference voltage, induction-basedmethods become more advantageous, whereas, if the inductive resonantfrequency lies beyond a predetermined range from the reference frequencyand the resonant voltage is smaller than the reference voltage,resonance-based methods become more advantageous.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a magnetic resonant detection signaltransmitted by a signal processing method for a hybrid wireless powertransmitting apparatus capable of transmitting a magnetic resonantwireless power signal and an inductive wireless power signal accordingto one embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 6, a magnetic resonant detection signal is a voltagechange step signal at a particular frequency (magnetic resonantfrequency). In other words, the magnetic resonant detection signal is avoltage change step signal changing gradually over 5 to 20 V in theresonant frequency range of 6.78 MHz±5%. If the magnetic resonant powertransmitting unit 130 receives a resonant response signal correspondingto a second object detection signal from a wireless power receivingapparatus, namely magnetic resonant receiving apparatus 1220, themagnetic resonant power transmitting unit 130 transmits a voltage changestep signal, which is a digital ping signal as shown in FIG. 6, throughthe antenna 131. Accordingly, the magnetic resonant receiving apparatus1220 transmits an FSK communication signal (which corresponds toresonant voltage information) with respect to the signal correspondingto an optimal voltage, according to which an optimal voltage isselected.

At this time, if the FSK signal is received at P1, it indicates that acharging distance is optimal. On the other hand, if the FSK signal isreceived at P5, it indicates that the corresponding charging position islocated either at the farthest position or closest position of thecharging distance, which corresponds to the worst charging efficiencythough charging is possible at those positions.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of an inductive resonant detection signaltransmitted by a signal processing method for a hybrid wireless powertransmitting apparatus capable of transmitting a magnetic resonantwireless power signal and an inductive wireless power signal accordingto one embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 7, an inductive resonant detection signal is afrequency change step signal. In other words, the inductive resonantdetection signal is a frequency change step signal changing gradually bya predetermined frequency step within a frequency band ranging from 110to 205 kHz. If the inductive power transmitting unit 120 receives aninductive response signal corresponding to a first object detectionsignal from a wireless power receiving apparatus, namely inductive powerreceiving apparatus 1210, the inductive power transmitting unit 120transmits a frequency change step signal, which is a digital ping signalas shown in FIG. 7, through the transmitting coil 121. Accordingly, theinductive power receiving apparatus 1210 transmits an ASK communicationsignal (which corresponds to inductive frequency information) withrespect to the signal corresponding to an optimal frequency (whichcorresponds to one of P′1 to P′5), according to which an optimalfrequency is selected.

At this time, if the ASK signal is received at P′3 which corresponds tothe optimal frequency 175 kHz, it indicates that a charging position isoptimal. On the other hand, if the ASK signal is received at P′1 or P′5,it indicates that the corresponding charging position gives the worstcharging efficiency.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure above, type of awireless power receiving apparatus can be checked through an antenna anda transmitting coil, according to which charging of a wireless powerreceiving apparatus based on magnetic induction and a wireless powerreceiving apparatus based on magnetic resonance can be performed bytransmitting a wireless power signal according to an appropriate method.

Also, if the wireless power receiving apparatus is a hybrid type, awireless power signal with improved transmission efficiency can betransmitted.

Also, since the type of a wireless power receiving apparatus can bechecked without using a separate communication unit or detection sensor,the number of components can be reduced, and manufacturing costs can bereduced.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating operation of a wireless powertransmitting system including a hybrid wireless power receivingapparatus according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. Asshown in FIG. 8, a wireless power system according to the presentdisclosure can comprise a wireless power transmitting apparatus 2100 anda wireless power receiving apparatus 2200.

A hybrid wireless power receiving apparatus 2200 according to thepresent disclosure can receive power signals (inductive power signal andresonant power signal) from both of the wireless power transmittingapparatus based on magnetic induction and the wireless powertransmitting apparatus based on magnetic resonance.

More specifically, an inductive power signal coming from the inductivepower transmitting apparatus 220 is received through a receiving coil2211 of the receiving block (refer to FIG. 9), and a resonant powersignal coming from the resonant power transmitting apparatus 210 isreceived through a loop antenna 2213 installed around the receiving coil2211.

Accordingly, the hybrid wireless power receiving apparatus 2200according to the present disclosure can receive both of the inductivepower signal and resonant power signal and provide power to the load byusing the received power signals.

In what follows, structure of the hybrid wireless power receivingapparatus will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of ahybrid wireless power receiving apparatus according to a secondembodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 9, a hybridwireless power receiving apparatus 2200 according to the presentdisclosure can comprise a receiving block 2210, rectifying unit 2220,voltage stabilization circuit 2230, converter 2240, voltage sensor 2250,short range communication module 2260, receiving controller 2270, andload 2280.

The receiving block 2210 is a component used for receiving a wirelesspower signal and as shown in FIG. 9, comprises a receiving coil 2211,antenna 2213, and a variable condenser 2215 connected to the antenna2213.

The receiving coil 2211 is used for receiving an inductive power signalwhen the wireless power transmitting apparatus 2100 is an inductivepower transmitting apparatus 220 that transmits the inductive powersignal. The receiving coil 2211 performs the function of generating AC(Alternating Current) power from a power signal in the low frequencyband ranging typically from 100 to 205 kHz according to electromagneticinduction.

The antenna 2213 is used for receiving a resonant power signal when thewireless power transmitting apparatus 2100 transmits a resonant powersignal. The antenna 2213 performs the function of generating AC powerfrom a power signal at the high frequency typically at 6.78 MHz±5%according to magnetic resonance.

The variable condenser 2215, if recognizing a resonant powertransmitting apparatus 210 through the antenna 2213, performs the roleof separating the resonant frequency of the antenna 2213. In otherwords, the receiving controller 2270 can receive a resonant power signalat a receiving frequency separated from the resonant frequency byadjusting the variable condenser 2215.

The rectifying unit 2220 performs the function of rectifying AC powerreceived from the receiving block 2210 to DC (Direct Current) power. Inother words, the rectifying unit performs the function of generatingrectified power by rectifying AC power at the antenna 2213 generated byAC power or resonant power signal at the receiving coil 2211 generatedby the inductive power signal. FIG. 10 gives more detailed descriptionsof the structure of the rectifying unit 2220.

The voltage stabilization circuit 2230, being located between therectifying unit 2220 and the converter 2240, performs the function ofstabilizing voltage of power flowing into the converter 2240 by applyinga virtual load in case the initial wireless power signal is received.

The voltage sensor 2250, being located between the rectifying unit 2220and the converter 2240, performs the function of measuring voltage ofrectified power generated by a wireless power signal. In other words,the receiving controller 2270 can check whether the power flowing intothe converter 2240 is within a normal operating range through thevoltage of rectified power received through the voltage sensor 2250.

The converter 2240 performs the role of converting rectified power tothe power required for the load 2280.

The short range communication module 2260 performs the role oftransmitting charging state information of the load 2280 to facilitatepower supply to the load 2280 when the wireless power transmittingapparatus 2100 is based on magnetic resonance, receives a resonant powersignal, and provides power to the load 2280 according to the receivedresonant power signal. For the case of inductive wireless powertransmitting apparatus, the short range communication module 2260transmits the charging state information of the load 2280 according toASK communication through the receiving coil 2211.

The receiving controller 2270 performs the function of supplying therectified power to the voltage stabilization circuit 2230 if theresonant power signal and the inductive power signal are received at theinitial stage and providing the rectified power to the converter 2240after turning off the voltage stabilization circuit 2230 if it isdetermined that the rectified power rectified by the resonant powersignal and the inductive power signal belongs to a reference operatingrange. Also, the receiving controller 2270 performs the function ofreceiving the resonant power receiving signal at the resonant frequencyby re-adjusting the variable condenser 2215 after a reference timeperiod elapses since reception of the initial resonant power signal.

Also, the receiving controller 2270 receives voltage information signalmeasured by the voltage sensor 2250. If the measured voltage value ofthe voltage information signal lies within a reference range, thereceiving controller 2270 determines that power can be supplied normallyto the load 2280, turns off the voltage stabilization circuit 2230, andsupplies the rectified power to the converter 2240. The operation of thereceiving controller 2270 above and the overall power receivingoperation of the hybrid wireless power receiving apparatus 2200 will bedescribed in more detail with reference to FIG. 12.

In what follows, a specific structure of the rectifying unit 2220 of thehybrid wireless power receiving apparatus 2200 will be described in moredetail with reference to FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of arectifying unit of a hybrid wireless power receiving apparatus accordingto a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

As described above, the rectifying unit 2220 performs the function ofconverting AC power to DC power by rectifying AC power generated in thereceiving block 2210. The rectifying unit 2220 can comprise a resonantrectifying unit 2221 rectifying power generated by the resonant powersignal from the resonant power transmitting apparatus 210, an inductiverectifying unit 2223 rectifying power generated by the inductive powersignal from the inductive power transmitting apparatus 220, and aswitching unit 2225 selecting one of the resonant rectifying unit 2221and the inductive rectifying unit 2223.

In other words, after checking the type of the wireless powertransmitting apparatus 2100 transmitting a wireless power signal, thereceiving controller 2270 controls the switching unit 2225 to select oneof the rectifying units corresponding to the type of the wireless powertransmitting apparatus and performs rectification. By performingrectification according to the two-channel scheme described above, notonly the rectification efficiency is improved but also current leakageto the receiving block 2210 which does not receive a wireless powersignal is prevented, leading to improvement of power transmissionefficiency.

In what follows, an example where functions of a hybrid wireless powerreceiving apparatus according to a second embodiment of the presentdisclosure are applied to a magnetic resonant wireless power receivingapparatus will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 11.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of amagnetic resonant wireless power receiving apparatus according toanother embodiment of the second embodiment of the present disclosure.As shown in FIG. 11, the magnetic resonant wireless power receivingapparatus 2300 can comprise a receiving block 2310 including an antenna2313 and a variable condenser 2315, rectifying unit 2320, voltagestabilization circuit 2330, converter 2340, voltage sensor 2350, shortrange communication module 2360, resonant receiving controller 2370, andload 2380.

At this time, since the rectifying unit 2320, voltage stabilizationcircuit 2330, converter 2340, voltage sensor 2350, short rangecommunication module 2360, and load 2380 perform the same functions asthe components of FIG. 10 with the same names, descriptions relatedthereto will be omitted.

Different from the receiving block 2210 of FIG. 9, the receiving block2310 of the magnetic resonant wireless power receiving apparatus 2300 ofFIG. 11 comprises an antenna 2313 and a variable condenser 2315 only.The resonant receiving controller 2370, recognizing the magneticresonant wireless power transmitting apparatus through the antenna 2313,adjusts the variable condenser 2315 to receive the initial resonantpower signal at a receiving frequency separated from the resonantfrequency. In other words, since the resonant power signal is receivedat a separated receiving frequency rather than the resonant frequency atthe time of receiving the initial power, a surge voltage can beprevented from being generated. Also, the resonant receiving controller2370 re-adjusts the variable condenser 2315 after a reference timeperiod is passed from since the initial resonant power signal isreceived so that the resonant power signal can be received at theresonant frequency, by which charging can be performed in an optimalmanner after the surge voltage is prevented.

In what follows, a method for controlling a wireless power signal in ahybrid wireless power receiving apparatus having the structure describedabove in FIGS. 9 and 10 will be described in detail with reference toFIG. 12. It should be understood that a method for controlling awireless power signal of FIG. 12 can also be applied to the magneticresonant wireless power receiving apparatus of FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating a wireless power transmissioncontrol method according to a hybrid wireless power receiving apparatusaccording to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 11, if the hybrid wireless power receiving apparatus 2200 islocated within a charging distance (resonance-type) or at a chargingposition (induction-type), the wireless power transmitting apparatus2100 checks by using an object detection signal whether an externalobject is detected. At this time, in case the wireless powertransmitting apparatus 2100 is an induction-type, the wireless powertransmitting apparatus checks by using a pulse signal at thetransmitting coil whether an external object is an inductive powertransmitting apparatus 220. In other words, in case the external objectis an inductive power transmitting apparatus 220, the wireless powerreceiving apparatus 2200 transmits an ASK communication signal throughthe receiving coil 2211, according to which the wireless powertransmitting apparatus 2100 transmits an ID request signal through thetransmitting coil.

In case the wireless power transmitting apparatus 2100 is aninduction-type, the wireless power transmitting apparatus can check byusing a pulse signal at the antenna 2213 whether an external object is aresonant power transmitting apparatus 210. If the external object isfound to be a resonant power transmitting apparatus 210, the wirelesspower transmitting apparatus 2100 transmits an ID request signal to thewireless power receiving apparatus 2200 through the short rangecommunication module 2260, S213.

Then, the wireless power receiving apparatus 2200 transmits the IDsignal to the receiving coil 2211 (in the case of induction-type) orshort range communication module 2260 (in the case of resonance-type)S221. Then the wireless power transmitting apparatus 2100 transmits awireless power signal according to the ID signal. In other words, thehybrid wireless power receiving apparatus 2200, if receiving initiallyone of the resonant power signal coming from the resonant powertransmitting apparatus 210 and the wireless power signal of theinductive power transmitting apparatus 220, turns on the voltagestabilization circuit 2230 located in the rear end of the rectifyingunit 2220. In case the power signal corresponds to the resonant powersignal, the hybrid wireless power receiving apparatus 2200 receives theinitial resonant power signal by configuring the initial resonant powersignal to be at a receiving frequency separated from the resonantfrequency by adjusting the variable condenser 2215 connected to theantenna 2213, S223.

Next, the receiving controller 2270 checks the voltage of rectifiedpower measured between the rectifying unit 2220 and the converter 2240through the voltage sensor 2250, S225. If it is determined that thechecked rectified voltage is within a normal operating range, thereceiving controller 2270 turns off the voltage stabilization circuit2230 and re-adjusts the variable condenser 2215 to receive a resonantsignal at the resonant frequency S227. Meanwhile, in the case ofinduction-type, if it is determined that the rectified power rectifiedby an inductive power signal is within a reference range, the receivingcontroller 2270 turns off the voltage stabilization circuit 2230 andprovides the rectified power to the converter 2240. Likewise, after areference time period is passed since the initial resonant power signalis received, the receiving controller 2270 can re-adjust the variablecondenser 2215 to receive the resonant power receiving signal at theresonant frequency without checking the voltage of the rectified powerbefore rectification.

In this way, the receiving controller 2270 re-adjusts the variablecondenser 2215 and the antenna 2213 receives the resonant power signalat the resonant frequency by. And accordingly, the wireless powerreceiving apparatus 2200 continues charging by applying rectified powerto the load 2280, S229. At this time, the receiving controller 2270 ofthe wireless power receiving apparatus 2200 generates charging stateinformation and transmits the generated charging state information tothe wireless power transmitting apparatus through the short rangecommunication module 2260. And the wireless power transmitting apparatus2100 changes the frequency or strength of the wireless power signal tohave the optimal transmission efficiency and transmits the changedwireless power signal S231, S217.

According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure above,since charging can be performed by receiving both of an inductive powersignal and a resonant power signal irrespective of the type of atransmitting apparatus, compatibility among apparatus is improved.

Also, according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, anabrupt voltage rise out of a reference range which can occur at theinitial charging step can be prevented, which contributes to improvementof durability of related products.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of awireless power transmitting system capable of transmitting and receivingan inductive power signal and a resonant power signal according to athird embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 13, awireless power system according to the present disclosure can comprise awireless power transmitting apparatus 3100 and a wireless powerreceiving apparatus 3200.

A hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus 3100 according to thepresent disclosure comprises a transmitting coil 3110, transmittingantenna 3120, first variable capacitor block 3130, and transmittingcontroller 3140, where an inductive power receiving apparatus 3201,magnetic resonant receiving apparatus 3202, and hybrid receivingapparatus 3203 can be used as the wireless power receiving apparatus3200.

More specifically, the transmitting coil 3110 is used for transmittingan inductive power signal from a wireless power signal due toelectromagnetic induction while the transmitting antenna 3120 is usedfor transmitting a resonant power signal which is a wireless powersignal due to the magnetic resonance phenomenon.

The first variable capacitor block 3130 connected to the transmittingcoil 3110 and the transmitting antenna 3120 is used to perform inductivemain impedance matching or resonant main impedance matching with thetransmitting coil and the transmitting antenna when the wireless powerreceiving apparatus 3200 is located at a charging position (in the caseof an inductive power receiving apparatus) or within a charging distance(in the case of a magnetic resonant receiving apparatus).

If an inductive power receiving apparatus is located at a chargingposition, the transmitting controller 3140 not only operates thetransmitting coil 3110 but also performs inductive main impedancematching by controlling the first variable capacitor block 3130. If amagnetic resonant receiving apparatus is located within a chargingdistance, the transmitting controller 3140 not only operates thetransmitting antenna 3120 but also performs resonant main impedancematching by controlling the first variable capacitor block 3130.

At this time, main impedance matching corresponds to auxiliary impedancematching carried out in the wireless power receiving apparatus 3200,which indicates that a relatively large change of capacitance is carriedout during impedance matching. Also, auxiliary impedance matchingindicates a relatively small change of capacitance carried out duringimpedance matching between a second variable capacitor block 3230 of thewireless power receiving apparatus 3200 and the transmitting block 3A ofthe wireless power transmitting apparatus 3100.

As the wireless power transmitting apparatus 3100 is configured asdescribed above, if the wireless power receiving apparatus 3200 is aninductive power receiving apparatus 3201, the first variable capacitorblock 3130 is made to carry out inductive main impedance matching while,if the wireless power receiving apparatus 3200 is a magnetic resonantreceiving apparatus 3202, the first variable capacitor block 3130 ismade to carry out resonant main impedance matching.

According to the third embodiment of the present disclosure describedabove, charging is made possible irrespective of whether the receivingapparatus is a resonance-type or an induction-type. Moreover, sinceimpedance matching with the receiving apparatus is carried out by bothof the transmitting and receiving apparatus, burden of the impedancematching on the transmitting apparatus can be reduced.

In what follows, an electrical structure of a hybrid receiving apparatusin a wireless power transmitting system capable of transmitting andreceiving an inductive power signal and resonant power signal accordingto the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described withreference to FIG. 14.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of ahybrid receiving apparatus of a wireless power transmitting systemcapable of transmitting and receiving an inductive power signal and aresonant power signal according to a third embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As shown in FIG. 14, the hybrid receiving apparatus 3203 cancomprise a receiving block 3B, second variable capacitor block 3230, andreceiving controller 3240.

The receiving block 3B can comprise a receiving coil 3210 and areceiving antenna 3220. The receiving coil 3210 is used for generatingAC power by receiving an inductive power signal which is a low frequencysignal according to electromagnetic induction, and the receiving antenna3220 is used for receiving an AC power signal by receiving a resonantpower signal which is a high frequency signal.

The second variable capacitor block 3230 is used for auxiliary impedancematching. In other words, capacitance is changed to perform auxiliaryimpedance matching for impedance matching between the transmitting coil3110 or transmitting antenna 3120 of the transmitting block 3A and thereceiving coil 3210 or receiving antenna 3220. Under the control of thereceiving controller 3240, the capacitance value of the second variablecapacitor block 3230 is changed to an auxiliary value, namely to a smallsize (which is meant to be small compared with the first variablecapacitor block 3130) to be used for impedance matching.

It should be understood that although descriptions in this document arebased on the hybrid receiving apparatus 3203, the present disclosure isnot limited to the current descriptions, but also can be used forinductive power receiving apparatus and magnetic resonant receivingapparatus. In other words, FIG. 14 shows both of the receiving coil 3210and the receiving antenna 3220. If either of the two is removed,however, the hybrid receiving apparatus corresponds to the inductivepower receiving apparatus 3201 or magnetic resonant receiving apparatus3202. In this case, too, the capacitance value of the second variablecapacitor block 3230 is changed to a small value for impedance matching.

In what follows, electrical structures of the first variable capacitorblock 3130 of the hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus 3100 andthe second variable capacitor block 3230 of the wireless power receivingapparatus 3200 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of afirst variable capacitor block of a hybrid wireless power transmittingapparatus of a wireless power transmitting system capable oftransmitting and receiving an inductive power signal and a resonantpower signal according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of asecond variable capacitor block of a hybrid wireless power transmittingapparatus of a wireless power transmitting system capable oftransmitting and receiving an inductive power signal and a resonantpower signal according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

First, with reference to FIG. 15, the first variable capacitor block3130 can comprise a first main capacitor block 3131, second maincapacitor block 3133, and main switching unit 3135.

The capacitance value of the first main capacitor block 3131 connectedto the transmitting coil 3110 is changed by the control of thetransmitting controller 3140 to perform inductive main impedancematching which is impedance matching between the transmitting coil 3110and the receiving coil 3210.

The capacitance value of the second main capacitor block 3133 connectedto the transmitting antenna 3120 is changed by the control of thetransmitting controller 3140 to perform resonant main impedance matchingwhich is impedance matching between the transmitting antenna 3120 andthe receiving antenna 3220.

If the transmitting controller 3140 transmits an external objectdetection signal through the transmitting block 3A and identifies thetype of a wireless power receiving apparatus by detecting a signal fromthe corresponding wireless power receiving apparatus 3200, the mainswitching unit 3135 performs the function of selecting one of the firstmain capacitor block 3131 and the second main capacitor block 3133according to the type of the receiving apparatus. In other words, thetransmitting controller 3140 checks whether an external object is aninductive power receiving apparatus 3201 or magnetic resonant receivingapparatus 3202 by using the external object detection signal transmittedfrom the transmitting block 3A and transmits a wireless power signal byoperating an auxiliary switching unit 3235 according to the checkingresult and selecting the corresponding main capacitor block.

And the selected main capacitor block changes its capacitance value onthe basis of the ID signal of the receiving apparatus for main impedancematching.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 16, the second variable capacitor block 3230of the hybrid receiving apparatus 3203 can comprise a first auxiliaryblock 3231, second auxiliary capacitor block 3233, and auxiliaryswitching unit 3235.

The capacitance value of the first auxiliary capacitor block 3231connected to the receiving coil 3210 is changed by the control of thereceiving controller 3240 to perform inductive auxiliary impedancematching which is impedance matching between the transmitting coil 3110and the receiving coil 3210.

The capacitance value of the second auxiliary capacitor block 3233connected to the receiving antenna 3220 is changed by the control of thereceiving controller 3240 to perform resonant auxiliary impedancematching which is impedance matching between the transmitting antenna3120 and the receiving antenna 3220.

If the receiving controller 3240 detects an external object detectionsignal through the transmitting block 3A and accordingly identifies thetype of a wireless power transmitting apparatus 3100, the auxiliaryswitching unit 3235 performs the function of selecting one of the firstauxiliary capacitor block 3231 and the second auxiliary capacitor block3233 according to the type of the wireless power transmitting apparatus3100. In other words, the receiving controller 3240 checks whether thewireless power transmitting apparatus 3100 is an inductive powertransmitting apparatus or magnetic resonant transmitting apparatus byusing the external object detection signal transmitted from thetransmitting block 3A and receives an optimal wireless power signal byoperating the auxiliary switching unit 3235 according to the checkingresult and selecting the corresponding auxiliary capacitor block,thereby performing impedance matching.

In what follows, a circuit structure of a variable capacitor block willbe described with reference to FIG. 17. The variable capacitor blockdescribed with reference to FIG. 5 can also be applied to the first andthe second main capacitor block and the first and the second auxiliarycapacitor block of FIGS. 13 and 14. In the appended claims, capacitor isnamed as “main capacitor, main inductive capacitor, main resonantcapacitor, auxiliary capacitor, auxiliary inductive capacitor, orauxiliary resonant capacitor” according to where the variable capacitorblock of FIG. 17 is used, while switch is named as “transmitting switch,inductive transmitting switch, resonant transmitting switch, receivingswitch, inductive receiving switch, or resonant receiving switch.”

FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram illustrating a variable capacitor block ofa wireless power transmitting system capable of transmitting andreceiving an inductive power signal and a resonant power signalaccording to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 17, the variable capacitor block of a wireless power transmittingsystem capable of transmitting and receiving an inductive power signaland a resonant power signal according to a third embodiment of thepresent disclosure can comprise a plurality of series-parallelcapacitors (C1 to C4) and switches S1, S2 disposed among the capacitors.By using the aforementioned configuration, variable capacitance valuescan be realized even with a smaller number of capacitors. Accordingly,the number of components used is reduced, contributing to lightening andthinning of products.

According to the third embodiment of the present disclosure above, sinceboth of a wireless power transmitting apparatus and a wireless powerreceiving apparatus take part in impedance matching, control efficiencyfor impedance matching is improved.

Also, since change of capacitance for impedance matching is performedthrough a simple combination of a series-parallel circuit and a switch,various capacitance values can be configured even with a smaller numberof capacitors and switches.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of awireless power transmitting system capable of transmitting and receivingan inductive power signal and a resonant power signal according to afourth embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 18, awireless power system according to the present disclosure can comprise awireless power transmitting apparatus 4100 and wireless power receivingapparatus 4200.

A hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus 4100 according to thepresent disclosure can comprise a transmitting coil 4110 andtransmitting antenna 4120, first variable capacitor block 4130, andtransmitting controller 4140, where an inductive power receivingapparatus 4201, magnetic resonant receiving apparatus 4202, and hybridreceiving apparatus 4203 can be used as the wireless power receivingapparatus 4200.

More specifically, the transmitting coil 4110 is used for transmittingan inductive power signal which is a wireless power signal due toelectromagnetic induction, and the transmitting antenna 4120 is used fortransmitting a resonant power signal which is a wireless power signaldue to magnetic resonance phenomenon.

The first variable capacitor block 4130 connected to the transmittingcoil 4110 and the transmitting antenna 4120 is used to perform inductivemain impedance matching or resonant main impedance matching with thetransmitting coil and the transmitting antenna when the wireless powerreceiving apparatus 4200 is located at a charging position (in the caseof an inductive power receiving apparatus) or within a charging distance(in the case of a magnetic resonant receiving apparatus).

If an inductive power receiving apparatus is located at a chargingposition, the transmitting controller 4140 not only operates thetransmitting coil 4110 but also performs inductive main impedancematching by controlling the first variable capacitor block 4130. If amagnetic resonant receiving apparatus is located within a chargingdistance, the transmitting controller 4140 not only operates thetransmitting antenna 4120 but also performs resonant main impedancematching by controlling the first variable capacitor block 4130.

At this time, main impedance matching corresponds to auxiliary impedancematching carried out in the wireless power receiving apparatus 4200,which indicates that a relatively large change of capacitance is carriedout during impedance matching. Also, auxiliary impedance matchingindicates a relatively small change of capacitance carried out duringimpedance matching between a second variable capacitor block 4230 of thewireless power receiving apparatus 4200 and the transmitting block 4A ofthe wireless power transmitting apparatus 4100.

As the wireless power transmitting apparatus 4100 is configured asdescribed above, if the wireless power receiving apparatus 4200 is aninductive power receiving apparatus 4201, the first variable capacitorblock 4130 is made to carry out inductive main impedance matching while,if the wireless power receiving apparatus 4200 is a magnetic resonantreceiving apparatus 4202, the first variable capacitor block 4130 ismade to carry out resonant main impedance matching.

According to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure describedabove, charging is made possible irrespective of whether the receivingapparatus is a resonance-type or an induction-type. Moreover, sinceimpedance matching with the receiving apparatus is carried out by bothof the transmitting and receiving apparatus, burden of the impedancematching on the transmitting apparatus can be reduced.

In what follows, an electrical structure of a hybrid receiving apparatusin a wireless power transmitting system capable of transmitting andreceiving an inductive power signal and a resonant power signalaccording to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 19.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of ahybrid receiving apparatus in a wireless power transmitting systemcapable of transmitting and receiving an inductive power signal and aresonant power signal according to the fourth embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As shown in FIG. 19, a hybrid receiving apparatus 4203 cancomprise a receiving block 4B, second variable capacitor block 4230, andreceiving controller 4240.

The receiving block 4B can comprise a receiving coil 4210 and areceiving antenna 4220. The receiving coil 4210 is used for generatingAC power by receiving an inductive power signal which is a low frequencysignal according to electromagnetic induction, and the receiving antenna4220 is used for receiving an AC power signal by receiving a resonantpower signal which is a high frequency signal.

The second variable capacitor block 4230 is used for auxiliary impedancematching. In other words, capacitance is changed to perform auxiliaryimpedance matching for impedance matching between the transmitting coil4110 or transmitting antenna 4120 of the transmitting block 4A and thereceiving coil 4210 or receiving antenna 4220. Under the control of thereceiving controller 4240, the capacitance value of the second variablecapacitor block 4230 is changed to an auxiliary value, namely to a smallsize (which is meant to be small compared with the first variablecapacitor block 4130) to be used for impedance matching.

It should be understood that although descriptions in this document isbased on the hybrid receiving apparatus 4203, the present disclosure isnot limited to the current descriptions, but also can be used forinductive power receiving apparatus and magnetic resonant receivingapparatus. In other words, FIG. 19 shows both of the receiving coil 4210and the receiving antenna 4220. If either of the two is removed,however, the hybrid receiving apparatus corresponds to the inductivepower receiving apparatus 4201 or magnetic resonant receiving apparatus4202. In this case, too, the capacitance value of the second variablecapacitor block 4230 is changed to a small value for impedance matching.

In what follows, electrical structures of the first variable capacitorblock 4130 of the hybrid wireless power transmitting apparatus 4100 andthe second variable capacitor block 4230 of the wireless power receivingapparatus 4200 will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of afirst variable capacitor block of a hybrid wireless power transmittingunit of a wireless power transmitting system capable of transmitting andreceiving an inductive power signal and a resonant power signalaccording to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 21 isa block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of a secondvariable capacitance block of a hybrid receiving apparatus of a wirelesspower transmitting system capable of transmitting and receiving aninductive power signal and a resonant power signal according to thefourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

First, with reference to FIG. 20, the first variable capacitor block4130 can comprise a first main capacitor block 4131, second maincapacitor block 4133, and main switching unit 4135.

The capacitance value of the first main capacitor block 4131 connectedto the transmitting coil 4110 is changed by the control of thetransmitting controller 4140 to perform inductive main impedancematching which is impedance matching between the transmitting coil 4110and the receiving coil 4210.

The capacitance value of the second main capacitor block 4133 connectedto the transmitting antenna 4120 is changed by the control of thetransmitting controller 4140 to perform resonant main impedance matchingwhich is impedance matching between the transmitting antenna 4120 andthe receiving antenna 4220.

If the transmitting controller 4140 transmits an external objectdetection signal through the transmitting block 4A and identifies thetype of a wireless power receiving apparatus by detecting a signal fromthe corresponding wireless power receiving apparatus 4200, the mainswitching unit 4135 performs the function of selecting one of the firstmain capacitor block 4131 and the second main capacitor block 4133according to the type of the receiving apparatus. In other words, thetransmitting controller 4140 checks whether an external object is aninductive power receiving apparatus 4201 or magnetic resonant receivingapparatus 4202 by using the external object detection signal transmittedfrom the transmitting block 4A and transmits a wireless power signal byoperating an auxiliary switching unit 4235 according to the checkingresult and selecting the corresponding main capacitor block.

And the selected main capacitor block changes its capacitance value onthe basis of the ID signal of the receiving apparatus for main impedancematching.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 21, the second variable capacitor block 4230of the hybrid receiving apparatus 4203 can comprise a first auxiliaryblock 4231, second auxiliary capacitor block 4233, and auxiliaryswitching unit 4235.

The capacitance value of the first auxiliary capacitor block 4231connected to the receiving coil 4210 is changed by the control of thereceiving controller 4240 to perform inductive auxiliary impedancematching which is impedance matching between the transmitting coil 4110and the receiving coil 4210.

The capacitance value of the second auxiliary capacitor block 4233connected to the receiving antenna 4220 is changed by the control of thereceiving controller 4240 to perform resonant auxiliary impedancematching which is impedance matching between the transmitting antenna4120 and the receiving antenna 4220.

If the receiving controller 4240 detects an external object detectionsignal through the transmitting block 4A and accordingly identifies thetype of a wireless power transmitting apparatus 4100, the auxiliaryswitching unit 4235 performs the function of selecting one of the firstauxiliary capacitor block 4231 and the second auxiliary capacitor block4233 according to the type of the wireless power transmitting apparatus4100. In other words, the receiving controller 4240 checks whether thewireless power transmitting apparatus 4100 is an inductive powertransmitting apparatus or magnetic resonant transmitting apparatus byusing the external object detection signal transmitted from thetransmitting block 4A and receives an optimal wireless power signal byoperating the auxiliary switching unit 4235 according to the checkingresult and selecting the corresponding auxiliary capacitor block,thereby performing impedance matching.

In what follows, a circuit structure of a variable capacitor block willbe described with reference to FIG. 22. The variable capacitor blockdescribed with reference to FIG. 5 can also be applied to the first andthe second main capacitor block and the first and the second auxiliarycapacitor block of FIGS. 18 and 19. In the appended claims, capacitor isnamed as “main capacitor, main inductive capacitor, main resonantcapacitor, auxiliary capacitor, auxiliary inductive capacitor, orauxiliary resonant capacitor” according to where the variable capacitorblock of FIG. 22 is used, while switch is named as “transmitting switch,inductive transmitting switch, resonant transmitting switch, receivingswitch, inductive receiving switch, or resonant receiving switch.”

FIG. 22 is a circuit diagram illustrating a variable capacitor block ofa wireless power transmitting system capable of transmitting andreceiving an inductive power signal and a resonant power signalaccording to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. As shownin FIG. 22, the variable capacitor block of a wireless powertransmitting system capable of transmitting and receiving an inductivepower signal and a resonant power signal according to the fourthembodiment of the present disclosure can comprise a plurality ofseries-parallel capacitors (C1 to C4) and switches S1, S2 disposed amongthe capacitors. By using the aforementioned configuration, variablecapacitance values can be realized even with a smaller number ofcapacitors. Accordingly, the number of components used is reduced,contributing to lightening and thinning of products.

According to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure above,since both of a wireless power transmitting apparatus and a wirelesspower receiving apparatus take part in impedance matching, controlefficiency for impedance matching is improved.

Also, since change of capacitance for impedance matching is performedthrough a simple combination of a series-parallel circuit and a switch,various capacitance values can be configured even with a smaller numberof capacitors and switches.

The hybrid wireless power transmitting system and the method for thesystem according to the present disclosure is not limited to theembodiments described above, but the entire embodiments can be combinedor part of the embodiments can be combined selectively so that variousmodifications can be made to the embodiments.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. An apparatus for wireless power transfer,comprising: a first power transmitting unit capable of transmitting afirst wireless power signal; a second power transmitting unit capable oftransmitting a second wireless power signal; and a controller configuredto: transmit a first object detection signal via the first powertransmitting unit and a second object detection signal via the secondpower transmitting unit, receive at least a first response signal from awireless power receiving apparatus, wherein the first response signal iseither a first type in response to the first object detection signal ora second type in response to the second object detection signal, select,from among the first power transmitting unit and the second powertransmitting unit, a selected power transmitting unit based, at least inpart, on the first response signal, wherein the first power transmittingunit is selected as the selected power transmitting unit when the firstresponse signal is the first type, wherein the second power transmittingunit is selected as the selected power transmitting unit when the firstresponse signal is the second type, and cause a transmission of thefirst wireless power signal or the second wireless power signal to thewireless power receiving apparatus via the selected power transmittingunit.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first powertransmitting unit is capable of transmitting the first wireless powersignal using magnetic induction and the second power transmitting unitis capable of transmitting the second wireless power signal usingmagnetic resonance, and wherein the controller is further configured to:receive, from the wireless power receiving apparatus, resonant voltageinformation indicating a resonant voltage corresponding to the secondobject detection signal; select the first power transmitting unit as theselected power transmitting unit when the resonant voltage informationindicates that the resonant voltage is above a reference voltage; andselect the second power transmitting unit as the selected powertransmitting unit when the resonant voltage information indicates thatthe resonant voltage is below the reference voltage.
 23. The apparatusof claim 21, wherein the selected power transmitting unit is the secondpower transmitting unit the controller further configured to: operatethe second power transmitting unit, receive power status informationfrom the wireless power receiving apparatus through a near communicationmodule associated with the second power transmitting unit, and controlthe second wireless power signal based on the power status information.24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the selected power transmittingunit is the first power transmitting unit, the controller furtherconfigured to: operate the first power transmitting unit, receive powerstatus information from the wireless power receiving apparatus through anear communication module or a transmitting coil of the first powertransmitting unit, and control the first wireless power signal based onthe power status information.
 25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein thecontroller is further configured to: determine that the wireless powerreceiving apparatus is an inductive wireless power receiving apparatusor a resonant wireless power receiving apparatus based, at least inpart, on whether the first response signal is the first type or thesecond type.
 26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first powertransmitting unit includes a transmitting coil, and wherein the secondpower transmitting unit includes a transmitting antenna.
 27. Theapparatus of claim 26, further comprising: a first variable capacitorblock connected to the transmitting coil and the transmitting antenna.28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to: perform an inductive main impedance matching bycontrolling the first variable capacitor block and by operating thetransmitting coil when the selected power transmitting unit is the firstpower transmitting unit, and perform a resonant main impedance matchingby controlling the first variable capacitor block and by operating thetransmitting antenna when the selected power transmitting unit is thesecond power transmitting unit.
 29. The apparatus of claim 27, whereinthe first variable capacitor block includes: a first main capacitorblock connected to the transmitting coil; a second main capacitor blockconnected to the transmitting antenna; and a main switching unitconfigured to select one of the first main capacitor block and thesecond main capacitor block under control of the controller.
 30. Theapparatus of claim 29, wherein the first main capacitor block includes aplurality of main inductive capacitors connected in serial or parallelwith each other, wherein the first main capacitor block further includesan inductive transmitting switch connected between the plurality of maininductive capacitors, and wherein the controller performs inductive mainimpedance matching by turning on and off the inductive transmittingswitch.
 31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the second main capacitorblock includes a plurality of main resonant capacitors connected inserial or parallel with each other, wherein the second main capacitorblock further includes a resonant transmitting switch connected betweenthe plurality of main resonant capacitors, and wherein the controllerperforms a resonant main impedance matching by turning on and off theresonant transmitting switch.
 32. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein thefirst power transmitting unit is further configured to transmit thefirst object detection signal and the second power transmitting unit isconfigured to transmit the second object detection signal, and whereinthe first object detection signal and the second object detection signalare transmitted in alternating fashion.
 33. The apparatus of claim 21,wherein the controller is configured to: receive both of the firstresponse signal and a second response signal, the first response signalbeing the first type in response to the first object detection signal,the second response signal being the second type in response to thesecond object detection signal, wherein the first response signalindicates inductive frequency information corresponding to the firstobject detection signal, and wherein the second response signalindicates a resonant voltage corresponding to the second objectdetection signal, cause transmission of the first wireless power signalvia the first power transmitting unit when a difference between afrequency indicated in the inductive frequency information and areference frequency is less than a predetermined amount and the resonantvoltage is above a reference voltage, and cause transmission of thesecond wireless power signal via the second power transmitting unit whena difference between the frequency indicated in the inductive frequencyinformation and the reference frequency is more than the predeterminedamount and the resonant voltage is below the reference voltage.
 34. Amethod for wireless power transfer, the method comprising: transmittingan first object detection signal via a first power transmitting unitcapable of transmitting a first wireless power signal; transmitting asecond object detection signal via a second power transmitting unitcapable of transmitting a second wireless power signal; receiving atleast a first response signal from a wireless power receiving apparatus,wherein the first response signal is either a first type in response tothe first object detection signal or a second type in response to thesecond object detection signal; selecting, from among the first powertransmitting unit and the second power transmitting unit, a selectedpower transmitting unit based, at least in part, on the first responsesignal, wherein the first power transmitting unit is selected as theselected power transmitting unit when the first response signal is thefirst type, wherein the second power transmitting unit is selected asthe selected power transmitting unit when the first response signal isthe second type; and causing a transmission of the first wireless powersignal or the second wireless power signal to the wireless powerreceiving apparatus via the selected power transmitting unit.
 35. Themethod of claim 34, wherein the first power transmitting unit is capableof transmitting the first wireless power signal using magnetic inductionand the second power transmitting unit is capable of transmitting thesecond wireless power signal using magnetic resonance, the methodfurther comprising: receiving, from the wireless power receivingapparatus, resonant voltage information indicating a resonant voltagecorresponding to the second object detection signal; selecting the firstpower transmitting unit as the selected power transmitting unit when theresonant voltage information indicates that the resonant voltage isabove a reference voltage; and selecting the second power transmittingunit as the selected power transmitting unit when the resonant voltageinformation indicates that the resonant voltage is below the referencevoltage.
 36. The method of claim 34, further comprising, when theselected power transmitting unit is the second power transmitting unit:operating the second power transmitting unit, receiving power statusinformation from the wireless power receiving apparatus through a nearcommunication module associated with the second power transmitting unit,and controlling the second wireless power signal based on the powerstatus information.
 37. The method of claim 34, further comprising, whenthe selected power transmitting unit is the first power transmittingunit: operating the first power transmitting unit, receiving powerstatus information from the wireless power receiving apparatus through anear communication module or a transmitting coil of the first powertransmitting unit, and controlling the first wireless power signal basedon the power status information.
 38. The method of claim 34, furthercomprising: determining that the wireless power receiving apparatus isan inductive wireless power receiving apparatus or a resonant wirelesspower receiving apparatus based, at least in part, on whether the firstresponse signal is the first type or the second type.
 39. The method ofclaim 34, wherein the first power transmitting unit includes atransmitting coil and the second power transmitting unit includes atransmitting antenna.
 40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:performing an inductive main impedance matching by controlling avariable capacitor block connected to the transmitting coil andoperating the transmitting coil when the selected power transmittingunit is the first power transmitting unit, and performing a resonantmain impedance matching by controlling the variable capacitor blockconnected to the transmitting antenna and operating the transmittingantenna when the selected power transmitting unit is the second powertransmitting unit.